Ancient Roman History: The Roman Republic

Questions and Answers

What is a significant difference between the Roman Republic and the United States?

Formal class divisions in politics (correct)

The method of voting in assemblies

The concept of a government with elected magistrates

The idea of checks and balances in the system

What is a notable similarity between the Roman and American republics?

The existence of formal class divisions

The concept of a government with elected magistrates (correct)

The role and responsibilities of the Senate

The method of electing a president

What aspect of the Roman Republic inspired the creation of the Electoral College in the United States?

The role of the Centuriate Assembly

The system of checks and balances

The method of electing consuls

The way the Tribal Assemblies voted (correct)

What is a similarity between the responsibilities of the U.S. president and those of the Roman consuls?

Some, but not all, responsibilities are modeled on those of the consuls Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of the system of government in the Roman Republic and the United States?

A system of elected magistrates with clearly defined duties Signup and view all the answers

What is a difference between the Roman Senate and the U.S. Senate?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What did the Roman Republic and the United States both incorporate into their systems of government?

Checks and balances Signup and view all the answers

What is a similarity between the Roman Republic and the United States in terms of the concept of government?

A government that delegates authority through elected magistrates Signup and view all the answers

What is a feature of the voting system in the Tribal Assemblies of the Roman Republic?

Voting power was consolidated into a smaller number of final ballots Signup and view all the answers

What is a similarity between the Roman Republic and the United States in terms of the role of government?

The government delegates authority through elected magistrates Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Roman Republic

The Roman Republic was founded in 509 B.C.E. after the last king of Rome was expelled, marking the end of the monarchy and the beginning of a new form of government.
The Republic was established by Lucius Junius Brutus and Collatinus, who vowed to never allow kings in Rome again and divided the powers of the Roman kings across multiple individuals.

Lucius Junius Brutus

Lucius Junius Brutus was a nobleman who founded the Roman Republic and ruled alongside Collatinus as equals.
Bust of Lucius Junius Brutus was created by Ludovico Lombardo circa 1550.

Roman Class Structure

The Roman Republic was divided into two classes: patricians and plebeians.
Patricians were citizens whose ancestors had served in the Senate of the old Roman kings and held power and privileges.
Plebeians were any Roman citizens who were not part of the patrician families and had limited political power and privileges.

The Struggle for Plebeian Rights

The plebeians slowly gained power and privileges through a series of political victories, including the right to convene their own Plebeian Assembly and elect their own government officials.
In 450 B.C.E., the plebeians forced the patricians to accept a legal code, known as the Twelve Tables, which made the two classes equal in legal matters.
By 367 B.C.E., plebeians could hold any political office, including that of consul.

Roman Government Structure

The Roman Republic had a three-branch government system: Magistrates, Senate, and Assemblies.
The Magistrates branch consisted of elected representatives with different responsibilities and powers, including consuls, praetors, aediles, quaestors, and censors.
The Senate was a council of experienced politicians with the power to issue commands to individual magistrates.
The Assemblies branch consisted of two assemblies: the Centuriate Assembly and the Tribal Assembly.

The Magistrates

Consuls were the most important magistrates, elected for a one-year term, and held the power to lead armies and preside over Senate meetings.
Praetors served as generals and provincial governors and had the power to command armies within their territory.
Aediles managed infrastructure, such as roads and aqueducts, and were responsible for putting on games and circuses.
Quaestors managed minor bureaucratic matters on a district level, including tax collection and enforcing local building codes.
Censors were former consuls elected for a five-year term, responsible for matters of public morality and keeping lists of Roman citizens.

The Senate

The Senate was a council of experienced politicians, consisting of current and former magistrates, who held power for life.
The Senate had the power to issue commands to individual magistrates, known as senatus consultum, which could effectively end a magistrate's political career.

The Assemblies

The Centuriate Assembly was made up of Roman citizens eligible for military service, divided into "centuries," and was responsible for electing consuls and praetors.
The Tribal Assembly was divided into geographical regions, known as "tribes," and was responsible for electing non-military magistrates and voting on proposed laws.

Influence of the Roman Republic on the United States

The Roman Republic's concept of a government that delegates its authority through elected magistrates with clearly defined duties is seen in the American system.
The method of voting in the Centuriate and Tribal Assemblies was an inspiration for the creation of the Electoral College.
The Roman Republic's system of checks and balances was also adopted in the American system.
The responsibilities of the U.S. president are partly modeled on those of the Roman consuls.

Description

Explore the early history of Rome, from its legendary beginnings to the founding of the Roman Republic in 509 B.C.E. Learn about the role of the Tarquins, the last kings of Rome, and the transition to a new form of government.